At my Thanksgiving table this year, we’ll avoid politics. I’ll ask that each guest tell of a random act of kindness we received from a stranger.
I’ll set the stage by recounting this experience: In 1995, I had moved to Phoenix and needed cheap wheels, so I bought a used Ford Escort from a rental car company with 50,000 miles on it.
One day, I was sailing southbound on busy Priest Drive in Tempe when my car stopped dead with no warning. In that day before cellphones, I felt confused, fearful and stranded.
Suddenly, who appeared at my car window but the driver of an 18-wheeler for a major grocery chain who had been traveling behind me.
“I can push you onto a quiet side street,” he offered.
He gently touched his big cab to the back of my vehicle, checked that no cars were speeding up behind us, and pushed me onto a nearby side street. Back in his cab, he used whatever communication device he had to call AAA for me. (I learned later that my car’s timing belt had broken.)
A young man helped prevent an accident
Fortunately, I’ve been on the receiving end of other random acts of kindness from strangers.
Recently on a hot summer day, I was driving in rush hour on Glendale Avenue, air conditioning going full blast, when I stopped at a red light. A young man in a souped-up car stopped beside me and motioned for me to lower my window.
“Your brake lights are out,” he said with a smile and sped off. As I drove to my mechanic for a quick fix, I realized that young man may very well have prevented a rear-end accident. How many drivers would be so observant and so considerate?
I was touched.
His gesture shattered an unjustified stereotype I’d held that young men in hot cars are a menace on the road.
She hit a motorcyclist. He gave her a hug
Another unflattering generalization I’d been guilty of — this one about motorcyclists — was proved wrong during a conversation in an art class. The teacher always began the sessions with a question to prompt discussion and to encourage us to get acquainted.
This day, she asked us to tell of kindness by a stranger, a topic I certainly knew something about. A woman in the class wowed us with this anecdote:
She had been driving — slowly — when she failed to see a motorcyclist in her path. Her car struck him, knocking over the bike and sending the driver onto the pavement.
She jumped from her car, crying in panic.
The biker picked himself up, dusted himself off and walked over to her.
“You look like you need a hug,” he said softly with kindness. “May I give you a hug?”
He assured her that “these things happen,” and they parted ways.
We can pay it forward, Thanksgiving or not
These generous gestures — and many others — have inspired me to reciprocate when I can, to pay it forward.
So, one sweltering summer day, I approached a supermarket when I noticed three elderly women standing on the curb, silently waiting with groceries in the blazing sun for a ride to ferry them home.
In the store, I leisurely picked up a few items, and when I exited, I felt alarm at seeing the women still waiting patiently.
I raced back in the store and bought three bottles of cold water to give them. They greatly appreciated the water and seemed surprised at the gift. Not only did they become hydrated, but I imagine they felt seen.
I felt good, reminding myself that the doer of random acts of kindness benefits at least as much as the recipient does.
I look forward to a Thanksgiving dinner that promises to be pleasant, uplifting and inspiring.
Luci E. Scott of Phoenix spent her career in journalism, including nearly 20 years in The Arizona Republic’s newsroom. She is now retired. Reach her at luci.scott@yahoo.com.